Jordan travel guide (Asia)

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a state in the Middle East, which borders on Israel, the Palestinian autonomous regions, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the Red Sea.

Geography: the Great Rift Valley, running from north to south divides the desert in two. In 1988, the kingdom gave up all territorial rights to the west Jordanian part of the country. The mountains of east Jordan rise steeply from the Great Rift Valley, they reach an altitude of up to 1,700 metres, before descending in a north-easterly direction into the Syrian Arabian desert steppes that take up approximately two thirds of the country. Mountains and rivers: the highest mountain in the country is Mount Adami. It measures 1,750 metres and is in the desert of the Wadi Rum. The most important river in Jordan is the Jordan, which is 40 km from the capital Amman. According to the New Testament, Jesus of Nazareth was baptised in this river by John the Baptist. Climate and best time to travel: in the north west of Jordan the climate is sub-tropical, and Mediterranean with dry hot summers and mild humid winters. In the south and east, on the other hand, a continental desert climate dominates, with great variations in day and night time temperature.Language and communication: the official language is Arabic, English and French are both widely understood in the larger cities.Health and vaccinations: no vaccination requirements exist for visitors arriving on direct flights from Europe. Arrival from Africa requires a current yellow fever vaccine. General vaccines against diseases such as Tetanus, Diphtheria and Hepatitis A are recommended. Also recommended but not required is a vaccination against Hepatitis B and rabies. An HIV test in English is required for long-term visitors. Health care is good in all major cities and tourist resorts. Taking out an international travel insurance including repatriation expenses is recommended. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled or cooked before consumption.

Entry requirements: British citizens need an entry visa for Jordan, which may be obtained on any port of entry and can be extended up to three months at any police station after arrival. Please contact the Jordanian embassy in London for further details on single parents and those travelling with children and see the travel advice pages on the foreign office website. Travel in Jordan: Jordan is served from many points in Europe. Cheap domestic flights may also be obtained from Amman, for instance with Jordan Aviation to Aqaba and Mafraq, as well as cheap international flights to Alexandria, Bahrain, Dubai and Kuwait.

Capital: Amman has been the capital of Jordan since 1921. It was originally built on seven hills and now has approximately 1.8 million inhabitants. It is a modern Arabic city, with many roman, Greek, and Ottoman sights, and a modern infrastructure with an international airport. Places of interest include the roman theatre and the citadel hill in the centre of the city as well as numerous oriental markets of which the golden souq near the citadel is the most famous. Sights near Amman include the antique roman ruins of Jerash. Due to the desert climate, these are the best preserved of its kind in the near east. This includes the Hadrian’s Arch, the Hippodrome, the roman marketplace and numerous theatres, baths and archways. South of Amman is the city of Madabas which is 4,500 years old and now inhabited again. The city has gained world fame for its mosaic map from the 6th Century, which portrays the holy land with Jerusalem as the centre point. Many scenes from the new and old testaments are also shown on the mosaic. The map was discovered by chance on the floor of the St. Georges church during excavation in 1896. The mosaic measures a total of 25x5 metres and consists of more than 2 million stones. Sights and beaches: Wadi Rum is recommended for a desert adventure. It is in the south and is the most fascinating natural wonder of Jordan. The desert of Wadi Rum has been inhabited for more than 3000 years and is used as a travel route. Spending the night in the open is particularly popular along with riding Arab horses. Especially in spring, the desert also has much to offer nature lovers and hill walkers. More than 2000 species of plants are in flower.

A particularly interesting destination is the Dead Sea. The sea is about 40 km south west of Amman and is the lowest point on earth, at 799 metres blow sea level. The sea is at the southern end of Jordan and forms the natural border between Jordan and the Palestinian autonomous areas in the West Bank. The sea was given its name due to the high salt content of about 30% and the complete lack of drainage. The water is used as therapy for a number of skin problems and even non-swimmers cannot drown in the Dead Sea. Many scientists believe that more than 30 billion minerals are present in the water of the Dead Sea. A trip to the hill Nebo is a must for visitors to the Dead Sea, where there is a basilica from the 4th century dedicated to Moses is located. From the church the view over Jordan and the valley of the Dead Sea 1000 metres lower down is magnificent. The crusaders castles of Kerak and Montreal are also interesting. These are well known for their crusaders architecture, which is a mixture of European, Byzantine and Arabian styles.

The beautiful beaches at the Gulf of Aqaba are ideal for a beach holiday. The sun-drenched strip is host to the most northerly coral reef of the world, and is a paradise for divers and snorkelling. The sea has an average temperature of 25 °C and the colours are particularly bright providing extremely clear views under water. The small town of Aqaba is also a good point for excursions to the desert town of Petra or for desert tours to the Wadi Rum. There are ferry services to the Egyptian town of Nuweiba. Highlight: without a doubt, the highlight of Jordan is the ancient town of Petra in the south of the country. The former caravan town which was added to the UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites in 1985 is the most impressive cultural monument in Jordan and is in a well protected location in a cirque, not perceptible from the outside. The only access to Petra is via 2 km natural crevice following a dried out riverbed. The city with is 100 metre high walls was once the trade centre of the Nabateans. The ancient Nabateans exploited the geographical location to the full, as the site was located on the caravan route. Via controls that took the form of tolls and providing the passing caravans with accommodation, food and water the Nabateans turned Petra into a well-organised and economic centre. In the 6th century, an earthquake destroyed most of the buildings that were not built into the rocks, and scientists now assume that only 1 % of the total buildings have so far been excavated. 800 buildings have been preserved in all that are comprised of Nabatean, Greek and roman styles. Religion: about 88 % of the Arab population is Sunnite, the Christian community comprises about 10% of the entire population and there are other monotheistic religions. Cities and accommodation: Amman, Zarqa, Irbid, Ar-Rusaifa, Al-Quwaisima, Wadi as-Sir, Tila al-Ali and Aqaba.